After political policies and tariffs caused the automotive industry to flounder for a new direction, it seems many automakers have settled on making a cheap electric pickup truck.
The long-awaited Scout is on its way, but it’s said to be “under $60,000,” which is nowhere near affordable for most American families. There’s also Volkswagen claiming it will be making a cheap truck. But the details on that are unknown. Hell, not even sure it will come out.
There are already pickups on the market for under $30,000, but Ford and Slate want to bring a sub-$30,000 electric pickup to the American market. And as of Thursday, we finally know what Ford is charging.
The truck is called the Fathom, it starts at $28,350, and Ford spent nine months picking that name. So: will either of these be worth getting?
Ford vs. Slate: Appearance
Here’s the funny part. Ford announced a name and a price and did not show us the truck. No photos, no renders, nothing. The full reveal isn’t until early 2027.
What we have are camouflaged prototypes spotted on public roads, which suggest something boxy and simple. Thanks to Ford’s new unicasting production, that tracks. It’s giving… Truck.
Which could be the whole selling point. Most truck people don’t want an EV, and they definitely don’t want one covered in futuristic design flourishes. Unassuming and humble goes a long way here.
Slate is also meant to be simple and affordable, except to keep costs down the base model isn’t plain. It’s unfinished. The Slate pickup doesn’t come with paint. It’s boxy and boring like the Fathom, but it also has no paint.
Winner: Nobody, yet. I’m not handing a design win to a truck Ford won’t let me look at.
Ford vs. Slate: Price
The big selling point of these two boring, quasi-ugly electric pickups is that they’re affordable. Pricing killed the Ford F-150 Lightning, which Ford has now discontinued entirely and plans to bring back as an extended-range hybrid instead.
Ford promised sub-$30,000 for ages without giving a number. Now we have it: $28,350, plus a $1,595 destination fee, for $29,945 out the door. Ford squeaked under its own bar with $55 to spare, which is either impressive discipline or the most obvious marketing decision ever made.
It’s not as cheap as the gas Ford Maverick at $28,145. But again, this is an EV we’re talkin’ about.
The Slate truck starts at $24,950, and its destination fee is $1,450, so $26,400 all in. You may be thinking, “Ding, ding, ding. That’s the clearly obvious winner of the round. Hello!??!” But hold on.
I went to pre-order my own Slate truck to see what it truly costs to build a functional, comfortable version. I skipped the extras nobody needs, but did opt for things like speakers and a simple coat of paint.
That brought me to $26,489.98. Which, fine, is still less than the Fathom, though you’re probably going to get a less comfortable ride.
Winner: Slate
Ford vs. Slate: Capabilities
This round flipped completely on Thursday, because Ford finally released specs.
The Fathom seats five and reportedly offers more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4, with a frunk on top of the bed. It has bidirectional power, so it can run your house during an outage. Every one comes BlueCruise-capable, Ford’s hands-free highway system, though you’ll likely pay extra to actually switch it on.
Inside there’s a large touchscreen with Apple Maps built into the operating system, a digital key, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Not the fancy CarPlay Ultra, but still. It’s not like you’re getting a luxurious BMW interior with a Spider-Man light show (thank f***), but for this money it’s a genuinely decent offering.
The battery is LFP, 400-volt, with the cells built in as structural elements of the vehicle, and it charges through a NACS port. Assembly happens at Ford’s Louisville plant in Kentucky.
What we still don’t know: towing and cargo numbers. Ford hasn’t said.
The Slate truck tows 2,000 pounds, which it doubled from an even more embarrassing 1,000. It manages 205 miles of range from a 65-kWh pack, 181 horsepower, and 0 to 60 in about 8 seconds with a 90 mph top speed. Payload is a respectable 1,550 pounds.
Oh, and the Slate truck has crank windows.
Winner: Ford
Ford vs. Slate: When can I actually have one?
This round matters more than people realize, and Slate takes it comfortably.
Slate says first customer deliveries land in late 2026, with more than 180,000 reservations already placed at $300 a pop. Ford doesn’t even open preorders until early 2027, with deliveries later that year.
So one of these trucks could be in your driveway roughly a year before the other. If your current car is on its last legs, that gap is worth more than a few thousand dollars of spec sheet.
Winner: Slate
Which cheap truck should I buy?
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. The Slate truck’s skeletal, unfinished look may be worth it for you, especially at under $25,000 and arriving a year sooner. But the Fathom is more polished and more capable, if you’re willing to spend a few thousand more and wait.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has called this platform the company’s “Model T moment,” noting that $30,000 is roughly what a Model T cost, adjusted for inflation. Bold framing for a truck he hasn’t shown anyone.
If I were forced to pick, I’d probably take the Fathom. I’m still not sure what purpose the Slate truck serves with that abysmal towing. At that point, just get a Nissan Leaf and save yourself the trouble of buying paint separately.
@matthewcohen ROOKIE4 weeks ago
